Method and system for tracking and determining a location of a wireless transmission

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for detecting and timing a transmitting device is disclosed. The device includes a receiving system receiving a signal containing at least a preamble code of a known length and at least one pulse within a receive window after the preamble code, a circuit receiving the at least one pulse comprising a zero-crossing circuit for indicting a zero-voltage crossing of the at least one pulse and a trigger device for latching the indication of zero-voltage crossing, and a ripple circuit counter, receiving the latched indication of said zero-voltage crossing and associating a time to the receipt of the latched indication. A system for detecting and locating a transmitting device is further disclosed. The system includes a plurality of sensor apparatus each determining a reception time of a signal and a processor for determining a location based on groups of the reception times

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date, pursuantto 35 USC 120, as a continuation-in-part to that patent applicationentitled “System and Methods of Detection Transmission Facilities,”filed on Jul. 14, 2006, and assigned Ser. No. 11/457,786 and, pursuantto 35 USC 119, to Provisional Patent Application, entitled “AccuracyTracking Methodology,” filed on Jun. 11, 2007, and assigned Ser. No.60/933,997, the contents of all of which are incorporated by referenceherein.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to that patent application Ser. No.11/610,493, entitled “Methods and Systems for High Speed BroadbandDigital Link,” filed on Dec. 13, 2006, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the field of wireless communicationand more particularly to a method and system for tracking anddetermining the location of a wireless transmission.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many facilities, such as government buildings, schools and inparticular correctional complexes, such as prisons, that do not permitwireless transmission (which is referred to herein as cellular phoneusage) on the premises or even possession of cell phones on thepremises. Preventing usage of such cell phones and other transmissionfacilities in such facilities/areas is of critical importance. Forexample, in government buildings, such as courts, cell phones usage islimited to prevent disturbances within the court room. In militaryfacilities, cell phone use is limited to prevent the distribution ofclassified materials through a text or photographic feature of the cellphone. Cell phone usage in schools is limited to avoid distractions thatmay occur during the class session. And in prisons or correctionfacilities, cell phone usage is limited to maintain control of thepopulation within the facility. Hence, detecting, tracking anddetermining the location of such unauthorized cell phone usage isimportant to each of these different types of facilities.

In other aspects, the use of wireless communication (cell phone usageand or other wireless transmission devices) is important in determininga location of the communication and the location of the person or objectwearing such communication device. For example, in fighting a firewithin a high-rise building, fire personnel may be distributed among anumber of floors and there is a need to know their location, first, tobetter organize their fire fighting skills and second, to providedirection for a safe exit in case of blockage to one or more of theiregresses. Similarly, in a school situation, while student usage of cellphones may be prohibited, a wireless communication system may be usefulto the student's parents in knowing that their child is actually in theschool environment. Additionally, in a correctional environment themovement of staff, detainees, and equipment are critical to know thestatus and location of such staff, detainees and equipment.

Hence, there is a need for methods of detecting, identifying, trackingand locating wireless communication transmissions within facilities tolimit regulate prevent, and/or monitor the ability to complete suchwireless communication transmission.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for detecting and timing a transmitting device isdisclosed. The device includes a receiving system receiving a signalcontaining at least a preamble code of a known length and at least onepulse within a receive window after the preamble code, a circuitreceiving the at least one pulse comprising a zero-crossing circuit forindicting a zero-voltage crossing of the at least one pulse and atrigger device for latching the indication of zero-voltage crossing, anda ripple circuit counter, receiving the latched indication of saidzero-voltage crossing and associating a time to the receipt of thelatched indication. A system for detecting and locating a transmittingdevice is further disclosed. The system includes a plurality of sensorapparatus each determining a reception time of a signal and a processorfor determining a location based on groups of the reception times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is now made tothe drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary application of a detecting,tracking, and locating system in accordance with the principle of theinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates on section of a detecting, tracking and locatingsystem in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a sensor apparatus in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second block diagram of a sensor apparatus inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates exemplary message protocols in accordancewith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary process for identifying wirelesscommunication systems in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary process for tracking a wirelesscommunication in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary process for locating a wirelesstransmission in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate further exemplary applications of the detecting,tracking, and locating system in accordance with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary remote device inaccordance with the principles of the invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a system for implementing the system in accordancewith the principles of the invention.

It is to be understood that these drawings are solely for purposes ofillustrating the concepts of the invention and are not intended as adefinition of the limits of the invention. The embodiments shown in thefigures herein and described in the accompanying detailed descriptionare to be used as illustrative embodiments and should not be construedas the only manner of practicing the invention. Also, the same referencenumerals, possibly supplemented with reference characters whereappropriate, have been used to identify similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detection of a transmission facility, such as a mobile phone orhand-held radio transmitter, radio transceiver, or other wiretransmission device as described herein, within an obstruction richenvironment, such as a facility with many physical barriers toelectronic transmission, is difficult to achieve. Similarly thedetection of a transmission outside a facility over great distancespresents difficult challenges. Referring to FIG. 1, the transmissiondetection, identification, and reporting system 100 described hereinprovides a method of detecting a transmission facility 202, such asdepicted in FIG. 2, within an environment rich in obstructions 102. Inthis illustrated example, substation (or sensing device) 108 operates asan independent detection. One embodiment of the transmission detection,identification, and reporting system 100 may involve the detection of amobile phone 202 within a heavily walled and metal-barred governmentfacility such as a correctional facility. In this embodiment, the systemmay utilize an array of antennas 104 selectively placed within thefacility, collection substations 108 for localized collection ofdetected signals, a central unit 110 for the processing of incomingsignals from the facility, a display 112 for showing the location of thedetected transmission facility 202, and an action facility 114 forimplementing standard procedures in the event of a detection. In thisembodiment, the communications between the antennas 104 and thesubstations 108, and between the substations 108 and the central unit110, may be wireless to make installation and maintenance of the systemwithin the facility, cost and time effective. Selective placement of theantennas 104, combined with algorithms and methods for determininglocation of the transmission facility 202, may allow a substantiallyimproved means for locating transmission facilities 202, such as mobilephones, in an otherwise heavily shielded environment.

In embodiments the antenna 104 may be a multi-dipole embedded antenna.Two examples of dual dipole embedded antennas are provided in FIG. 3 asa first dual-dipole embedded antenna 302 and a second dual dipoleembedded antenna 304. In embodiments the antenna may be adapted toreceive one, two, three, four, or more bandwidths. In embodiments theantenna 104 may be a dipole antenna 104, a Yagi-Uda Log-Periodic antenna104, a loop antenna 104, a quad antenna 104, a micro-strip antenna 104,a helical antenna 104, a phase array antenna 104, a patch antenna or thelike.

In embodiments, the transmission facility 202 may be a mobile phone,such as a flip phone, a slide phone, a cellular phone, a handset, asatellite phone, a 3G phone, a wireless phone, a cordless phone,wireless transmission or the like. In embodiments, the transmissionfacility 202 may be a radio, such as a walkie-talkie, a mobile radio, ashort-wave radio, or the like.

In embodiments, the transmission band from the transmission may bewithin the radio or other electromagnetic frequency spectrum, such asextremely low frequency (ELF), super low frequency (SLF), ultra lowfrequency (ULF), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), mediumfrequency (MF), high frequency (HF), very high frequency (VHF), ultrahigh frequency (UHF), super high frequency (SHF), extremely highfrequency (EHF), microwave, a frequency suitable for 802.11x wirelesscommunications, ultra wide band (UWB), Bluetooth, or the like. Inembodiments, the transmission may be within the radio or otherelectromagnetic frequency spectrum and may include multiple radio andother electromagnetic frequency spectrum transmissions, performing multifunctions.

In embodiments, the obstruction 102 rich environment may be a building,such as a corrections facility, a school, a government facility, astore, a mall, a residence, a hotel, a storage complex, a motel, or thelike. In embodiments, the obstruction 102 rich environment may be alarge confined space, such as a courtyard, a food court, a recess area,a hallway, greenhouse, recreation room, gymnasium, auditorium, kitchen,cafeteria, craft area, work area, library, prison yard, or the like. Inembodiments, the obstruction 102 may be a transmission, devicetransmission obstruction 102, such as cinderblock, cement, rebar, wirecage, metal, metal coated surface, or the like. In embodiments, theobstruction 102 may be other construction materials, such as wood,glass, rug, flooring materials, roofing materials, and the like. Inembodiments, antenna 104 may be placed a great distances from the areawhere the transmission facility is located, in that case, theobstruction 102 to a transmission may be another building, rocks, treesor the like. In embodiments, the obstruction 102 may be otherconstruction materials, such as wood, glass, rug, flooring materials,roofing materials, and the like.

In embodiments, the transmitting signal information from the antenna 104module to the central unit 110 may be through a communicationsconnection, such as an IEEE 802.15.4, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n or coaxialcable, wireless network, wireless sensor to sensor (i.e., leapfrogging,hopping and repeater methodologies), IEEE 802.11 microwave, Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, Ethernet, or the and the like. In embodiments, thecommunications connection may utilize CAT-5, cat-6, microwave, RJ-45,RS-232, coaxial cable connections, and the like. In embodiments thecommunications connection may utilize an optical connection, such as awireless infrared link, an optical fiber, and the like.

In embodiments, the transmitting signal information from the antenna 104module to the central unit 110 may contain data, such as CDMA, CDPD,GSM, TDMA, and the like, and may be used to discriminate which servicesignal is being used, such as Verizon, Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint, andthe like and may transmit data sets such as text, video, data, images,and the like. The detection of the cell phones may be resolved down tocell phone manufacturer, EMEI, cell phone type, EMSI and cell phoneprovider and the like.

In embodiments, the transmitting signal information to the central unit110 may be made through an intermediate connection, such as a substation108, router, switch, hub, bridge, multiplexer, modem, network card,existing network, wireless hopping and leapfrogging meshed networks,network interface, processing unit, preprocessor, computer, repeater,antenna 104, and the like. In embodiments, the transmitting signalinformation to the central unit may encompass video and audio data andprotocols and may include 3 party network traffic, TCP/IP or otherprotocol information and the like. In embodiments, the transmittingsignal information to the central unit may be sent through internal andexternal network systems and the like.

In embodiments, the central unit 110 may have in part a computer, acomputer system, a network of computers, a state machine, a sequencer, amicroprocessor, a digital signal processor, an audio processor, apreprocessor, a microprocessor, microcontroller, and the like.

In embodiments, the central unit 110 may process information, such asdata information, educational information, identification information,audio, video information, environmental (water, heat, toxins), proximityinformation and the like, emergency information, such as, biometricinformation, alert and danger information and the like, locationinformation, such as the location of people, inmates, correctionspersonnel, visitors, all personnel within the facility, equipment, cellphones, wireless devices, resources, weapons, products, incoming goods,outgoing goods, movement information, such as speed, direction, heightand the like. In embodiments, the information may be the identificationof the transmission facility wearer. The information may be the type ofsignal, such as mobile phone standard protocols such as Wimax, CDMA,CDPA, GSM, TDMA, IS-95 and the like. In embodiments, the information maybe an event notification, such as personnel under duress, an emergencymedical condition, a call for assistance, a fire, a call for police, atheft, and the like. In embodiments, the processed information may allowfor the tracking of the person or object in possession of thetransmission facility 202, such as a mobile phone, a radio, a weapon, aproduct, a resource, and the like. In embodiments, the processedinformation may allow for the discrimination and/or association betweenpeople or objects, such as determining the ownership of the transmissionfacility 202, the assignment of the source of transmission, currentlocation of a transmission facility 202 compared to its predictedlocation, and the like. In embodiments, the processed information mayalso have time codes and unique identifiers assigned and the like. Inembodiments, the processed information may include other near areatransmission facility information with unique identifiers assigned andthe like.

In embodiments, the central unit 110 may have a display 112, such as acathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display 112 (LCD), electronicpaper, 3D display 112, head-mounted display 112, projector, segmenteddisplay 112, computer display 112, graphic output display 112, and thelike. In embodiments, the central unit 110 may have an action facility114, comprising a user interface for causing actions relating to thedetected transmission facility 202, such as closing a door, sealing aroom, deploying and action signal, initiating an alarm, and the like. Inembodiments, the central unit 110 may have an action facility 114,comprising an interfacing unit that interfaces with existing networks orprocesses which utilize the information that may be generated by one ormore of the embodiments described herein.

In embodiments the functions of a central unit 110 as described hereinmay be replaced by an alternate configuration, such as a configurationof multiple computers, such as a group of servers, processors, or thelike, operating in parallel. In embodiments the methods and systemsdescribed herein may involve locating computing capabilities inalternative network configurations, such as in a mesh network or apeer-to-peer network.

In embodiments, the location of a transmission facility 202 may bedetermined by various radiolocation or signal measurement techniques,including measuring phase, Magnetic field strength, amplitude, time, ora combination of these; or by identifying and locating an areaassociated with an antenna 104 with the highest signal strength. Inembodiments, the location of a transmission facility 202 may bedetermined by various radiolocation or signal measurement techniques,including measuring phase, amplitude, time, or a combination of these;or by identifying and locating an area associated with othertransmission facility. In embodiments, the location of a transmissionfacility 202 may be determined by a transceiver transmission facility202 which includes a location sensing, such GPS, or by anothertransmission facility 202 containing proximity sensor, e.g., capacitivecoupling, or detecting sensor, e.g., Bluetooth or other similar shortrange wireless detection device. In embodiments, the location of atransmission facility 202 may be determined when the transmissionfacility 202 is powered off though detection of a null in the band passof a transmitted frequency sweep due to the presence of a mobile phoneantenna. In embodiments, the location of a transmission facility 202 maybe determined by measurement techniques, including measuring resistance,a null in the band pass, impedance, Electrometric field, near fieldtechnology radio frequency radiation methodologies, or a combination ofthese; or by identifying and locating an area associated with othertransmission facility.

In embodiments, a method of detecting a transmission facility 202 (e.g.cell phone) when the transmission facility 202 is not powered mayrequire a transmitting device and a receiving device that can recognizethe signature of an antenna 104 associated with the transmissionfacility 202. By transmitting a known frequency and receiving thedisturbance pattern produced by having a particular antenna 104 designin the transmission path, the pattern or ‘signature’ of that antenna 104can be characterized. In embodiments, this characterization may beevaluated with a microprocessor 1402 with results output to a display112. A database of these signatures can be placed into the device, andas the transmitter sweeps across the various cell frequencies, a patternreceived can be matched against the database patterns to determine thepresence of transmission facilities 202. In embodiments, any class ofantenna (e.g. WI-FI, Blackberry, Walkie-Talkie, etc.) can be classifiedand identified.

In embodiments, the range of a hand held device that can detect aninactive transmission facility is approximately 10 feet. In embodiments,greater distances could be attained for stationary units by increasingthe power and/or changing sensitivity.

Radiolocation, also referred to as radio-determination, as used hereinencompasses any process of finding the location of a transmitter bymeans of the propagation properties of waves. The angle at which asignal is received, as well as the time it takes to propagate, may bothcontribute to the determination of the location of the transmissionfacility 202. There are a variety of methods that may be employed in thedetermination of the location of a transmission facility 202. Methodsinclude (i) a cell-sector system that collects information pertaining tocell and sector ID's, (ii) the assisted-global positioning satellite(GPS) technology utilizing a GPS chipset in a mobile communicationfacility, (iii) standard GPS technology, (iv) enhanced-observed timedifference technology utilizing software residing on a server that usessignal transmission of time differences received by geographicallydispersed radio receivers to pinpoint a user's location, (v) timedifference of arrival, (vi) time of arrival, (vii) angle of arrival,(viii) triangulation of cellular signals, (iix) location based onproximity to known locations (including locations of otherradio-transmitters), (ix) map-based location, or any combination of anyof the foregoing, as well as other location facilities known to those ofskill in the art.

Obstructions 102 to radio wave propagation may greatly reduce theeffectiveness of many of the conventional radiolocation methods due toobstruction of the line-of-sight between the transmission facilities 202and the receiving antennas 104. However, by employing a large array ofantennas 104, positioned so as to maintain line-of-sight betweenpossible transmission facility 202 locations and the receiving antennas104, several of these methods may be effectively used in the location ofthe transmission facility 202. Additionally, by employing an array ofantennas 104, positioned to detect transmission facility 202 locationswherein the receiving antennas 104 are obstructed in such manner thatline-of-sight prevented, several of these methods may be effectivelyused in the location of the transmission facility 202. These methodsinclude time difference of arrival, time of arrival, and angle ofarrival, amplitude comparison, and the like. The time difference ofarrival method determines the difference in the time, or the differencein phase, of the same radio-transmitting signal arriving at differentreceiving antennas 104. Together with the known propagation speed of theradio wave, allows the determination of the location of the transmissionfacility 202. The time of arrival method determines the absolute time ofreception of the signal at different receiving antennas 104, and again,along with the known propagation speed of the radio wave, allows thedetermination of the location of the transmission facility 202. Theangle of arrival method utilizes direction of transmission to differentantennas 104 to determine the location of the transmission facility.Amplitude comparison method compares the strength of the signal detectedat each antenna to determine the location of a transmission facility202. For example, two antennas 104 located in the same room would detectdifferent signal amplitudes for the same transmission facility 202output, thereby providing a means of determining which antenna 104 thetransmission facility 202 is closer to. Increasing the number ofantennas 104 therefore increases the resolution with which the locationof the transmission facility 202 may be determined. All of thesemethods, and combinations of these methods, may employ mathematicalprocesses such as triangulation, trilateration, multilateration, orlike, in determining the location of the transmission facility.

Triangulation is the process of finding coordinates and distance to apoint by calculating the length of one side of a triangle, givenmeasurements of angles and/or sides of the triangle formed by thatpoint, such as the target transmission facility 202, and two other knownreference points, such as the receiving antennas 104. The calculation ofthe location of the transmission facility 202 may then be performedutilizing the law of Sines from trigonometry. Tri-lateration is a methodsimilar to triangulation, but unlike triangulation, which uses anglemeasurements, together with at least one known distance, to calculatethe subject's location, tri-lateration uses the known locations of twoor more reference points and the measured distance to the subject, suchas the transmission facility 202, and each reference point, such as thereceiving antennas 104. Multi-lateration, or hyperbolic positioning, issimilar to tri-lateration, but multi-lateration uses measurements oftime difference of arrival, rather than time of arrival, to estimatelocation using the intersection of hyperboloids.

While several radiolocation and triangulation techniques have beendescribed in connection with locating the transmitting device, it shouldbe understood that one skilled in the art would appreciate that thereare other location methodologies and such location methodologies areencompassed by the present invention. For example, in embodiments, thelocation of a single antenna may be known and the single antenna maydetect a transmitting device. The location of the transmitting devicemay be estimated through its known proximity to the single antennalocation. This may provide adequate location resolution for certainapplications of the technology. Similarly, two or more antennas may beused and each of the antenna locations may be known. When each of theantennas receives a transmission, the corresponding signal strengths maybe compared. The one with the highest signal strength may be determinedas the one closest to the transmitting device so the correspondingantenna location may provide enough location resolution for certainapplications.

In an embodiment of the transmission detection, identification, andreporting system 100, a corrections facility, with its substantial andinherent obstruction 102 rich environment, presents an ideal example ofhow the transmission detection, identification, and reporting system 100may significantly increase the detection of transmission facilities 202such as mobile phones, a significant challenge to authorities of thecorrection facilities. In this embodiment, the system maybe placedthroughout the corrections facility for the purpose of alerting thecorrections staff that cell phone activity is taking place, the time ofthe activity, the location of the activity and the type of device orservice i.e., Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, and the like. In anotherexample of an embodiment of the transmission detection, identification,and reporting system 100 may be placed on the perimeter of a selectedarea for the purpose of alerting school officials, neighborhood watchprograms, homeland security personnel and/or law enforcement that cellphone and/or transmission facility movement and/or activity is takingplace, within the parameter of the area covered. The time of theactivity, the location of the activity and the type, i.e., transmissionfacility identification, such as, Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, and thelike, may also be determined and provided. A further embodiment of thesystem suitable for school safety includes the identification of allcell phone usage within the facility. In this embodiment the integrationwith a CCTV apparatus, with positional coordinates, the transmissionfacility and the sensor array nodes have audio, video surveillancecapability with biometric and alert technologies, such as bombdetection, bio-hazards, prohibited substances detection and the like. Inan embodiment of the transmission detection, identification, andreporting system 100 may also direct other types of transmissiondetection, identification, and reporting system 100 to focus on aspecific transmission facility and the like. In an embodiment of thetransmission detection, identification, and reporting system 100 mayprovide energy conservation methodologies, such as idle mode and thelike, to reduce the power requirements of battery or solar poweredequipments. The technologies described herein may also allow for astandalone detection units incorporated in a transmission facility or aset of detection units to detect transmission devices in schools,buildings and other environments in which the facility's or area'sprovider does not wish the use of cell phones and is interested in thedetection of cell phone use.

FIG. 3 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an exemplary sensingsystem in accordance with the principles of the invention. In thisillustrated embodiment, antenna 104-1 receives low power data signalsfrom a transmission facility or wireless transmission device (notshown). The data signal is provided to transceiver(transmitter/receiver) 310 that down-converts the data signal andprovides the data signal to process 330. In this case, processor 330 isimplemented as Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Processor 330 maysimilarly be presented as a general purpose processor unit or anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

Antenna 104-2 receives a Radio Frequency (RF) signal and provides the RFsignal to RF stage 370 for down-converting and amplification. Thedown-converted signal is then applied to a “log” amplifier 375. Logamplifiers are known in the art to provide a gain value to a receivedsignal based on the magnitude of the received signal. In this case, thegain is applied according to a logarithmic function rather than a linearfunction. The output of RF stage 370 and log amplifier are applied to adual comparator 380.

One output of the dual comparator 380 is applied to FPGA 330 and oneoutput is applied to a stop clock circuit 390, which determines a timewhen a designated received pulse is detected. FPGA 330 provides anenable signal to the stop clock circuit 390. An output of the stop clockcircuit 390 is applied to a ripple circuit, which maintains an accuratetime to determine a accurate time when the designated received pulse isdetected.

Also shown is a high-accuracy clock 360 that provides a clock signal toFPGA 330. Preferably, clock 360 is a rubidium clock having a measurementaccuracy in the order of picoseconds. The rubidium clock 360 may beconnected to a dedicated category 6 cable that allows for allowingconnection of one or more devices requiring a high-accuracy clocksignal.

Processor clock/FPGA clocks 350 are provided to the respective devicesfor the internal operation of these devices. The processor clock andFPGA clock signals may be generated independently.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further detailed block diagram implementation f asensing system in accordance with the principles of the invention. Inillustrated embodiment, antenna 104-1 receives a data signal, aspreviously described, and applies the received signal to transceiver310. The output of transceiver 310 is applied to FPGA 330. In one aspectof the invention, the data signal is transmitted on a carrier frequencyof 434 Mhz. Antenna 104-2 receives a signal and applies the receivedsignal to RF stage 370. RF stage 370 is composed of a low-pass filter405 to remove high frequency signals, a 20 db (decibel) amplifier 410 toamplify the remaining received signal, a mixer 415 to down-convert thereceived signal to a known baseband signal and a second amplifier 420 toamplify the baseband signal. The output of the RF stage 370 is appliedto log amplifier 375. Log amplifier 375 is composed of log amplifier375-1 and operational amplifier 375-2. Log amplifier 375-1 amplifies thereceived signal based on a logarithmic function, as previous described,and operational amplifier 375-2 amplifies the received signal based on alinear function.

The output of the operational amplifier 375-2 is applied to aAnalog/Digital Converter 430 that digitizes the received signal, whichis then applied to FPGA 330. In addition, the output of each of the logamplifier and the operational amplifier is applied to a dual comparator380, which compares the applied inputs to known threshold values toreduce spurious signals. The log amplifier signal and the operationalamplifier are each applied to the FGPA 330 and the output of theoperational amplifier is further applied to a stop clock circuit 390.Stop clock circuit 390 is composed of a zero-crossing circuit 390-1 anda trigger device 390-1 (e.g., a D-flip flop). Zero-crossing circuit390-1 are known in the art to provide an indication when a modulation ofa signal crosses a zero-voltage value. The zero-crossing indication isthen provided to trigger circuit 390-2 which provides a digitalrepresentation of the zero-crossing.

The digital representation output of the clock stop circuit is nextapplied to the ripple counter circuit 340. In this illustratedembodiment, ripple counter circuit 340 is composed of a clock multiplier340.1 that multiples a clock signal received from FPGA 330. Themultiplied clock is provided to a divide by two circuit 340.2 to reducethe clock rate. The reduced clock rate is applied to a ripple counter340.3. In this illustrated case, the ripple counter 340.3 provides asignal to FPGA when a stop clock signal is received from stop clockcircuit 390.

In a preferred embodiment, a 160 MHz clock is provided to clockmultiplier 340.1 which produces a clock rate of 2.4 GHz. The 2.4 GHzclock is divided to a clock rate of 1.2 GHz to operate ripple counter340.3 The output of the divide by two device is presented to the FPGA,representing the most significant bit, prior to the ripple counter. Inthis case the ripple counter 340.3 operates in the order of nanosecondresolution. Although, the clock rate is shown as being increased andthen decreased, this is merely a function of an implementation and isnot to be considered the only means of generating a clock signal or thatthe clock is limited to a 2.4 GHz signal.

FPGA in 330 receives a ripple counter value associated with stop clockindication. The ripple counter value represents a time value, which inconjunction with similar ripple counter values may be used to determinea location of a cell phone or similar transmitting device, as isdescribed with regard to FIGS. 7A-7B.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary message protocol in accordance with theprinciples of the invention. In this exemplary message, a preamblemessage 510 is composed of a plurality of data bits represented as510.1-510.n. Each of the data bits 510.1-510.n may represent one or moreadditional bit. For the purposes of describing the principles of theinvention, each illustrated data bit 510.1-510.n represents a singledata bit. The preamble message may represent an identification of auser, a characteristic of a user, biometric data of a user orcombinations thereof. Preamble 510 further represents a marker and atrigger that identifies the beginning of the reception of a transmissionof particular user. In one aspect of the invention the number of bits inpreamble 510 is fixed at sixteen (16). However, it would be recognizedthat the number of preamble bits may be selected based on desiredtransmission characteristics and have been contemplated and consideredwithin the scope of the invention described herein.

After reception of a number of known preamble bits 510.1-510.n, a pulseprojection window 515 is open for a known period of time to capture theoccurrence of a next pulse 530 in the pulse sequence. This next pulse isreferred to as clock stop pulse. The clock stop pulse is used toaccurately determine end of transmission as described with regard toFIG. 4. Clock stop pulse 530 is further composed of a plurality ofindividual pulses 530.1-530.n, that are distributed among the clock stoppulse. The detection of at least one pulse 530.1-530.n satisfying atleast one known criterion is used as a time marker to mark the end oftransmission from a user.

In one aspect of the invention, the preamble pulses are selected asbeing of a duration of 71 nanoseconds uniformly distributed over a 1.136microsecond time frame. The pulse window is established as 50nanoseconds and each of the pulses 530.1-530.n within clock stop pulse530 are represented as 32 pulses of a 2.2 nanosecond duration. It wouldbe recognized that the preamble described herein is representative of asingle aspect of the invention and that the particular values describedherein are provided to limit the scope of the invention to this value.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)protocol 550 in accordance with the principles of the invention. In thisexemplary protocol, each user is assigned a time slot in which a usermay transmit a message to a sensor or substation (see FIG. 1) by thecentral office. The time slot assignment may be established dynamicallyby the central office 110 or substation 108 based on the number of userswithin a general range of the central office. In another aspect, each ofthe users may have allocated a predetermined time slot and when the userenters a general area managed by the central office or substation, thecentral office 110 or substation 108 may register the user and determinewhether conflicts may exist. Conflict resolution may for example beresolved by incorporating a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)protocol (not shown) on each of the conflicting users. In this case, twousers may thus transmit in the same time slot by the central officeassigning and providing a known code to each of the conflicting users.CDMA technology is well known in the art and need not be discussed indetail herein.

In the illustrated protocol shown, each user is allocated a onemillisecond (1 ms) time slot 550 (or a time slot which varies from 500microseconds to 20 milliseconds) in which to communicate with a sensor.That is, the preamble 510 is received substantially at the beginning ofthe time window, as each user is synchronized to the time frame 560. Thestop clock bit 530, when received marks the end of the reception of theuser preamble, which may include identification information. Theremaining time 570, in the time slot 510, may be utilized for thetransmission of additional information, e.g., type of device, biometricdata, text data, voice data, etc., to the central office or substation.For example, the biometric data may include information such as heartrate, pulse rate, temperature or with appropriate placement of one ormore transmitting devices, an electrocardiogram.

In this illustrated example, the time frame 560 is selected as two (2)seconds to accommodate up to 2000 users, without CDMA encoding. However,it would be recognized that the time slot and/or time period may beadjusted based on the type and number of expected users with the system.For example, in critical situations, the time period may be adjusted toa smaller value to provide faster updates of the location of a user. Aswould be recognized, synchronization of the wireless transmissiondevices with respect to the frame is performed periodically to insurethe correct time relationship between the wireless devices and theframe.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary process 600 fordetermining a time of receiving information from a user in accordancewith the principles of the invention. In this exemplary process 600, asensor is turned on to accept an assigned user identification during aselected time slot (not shown). A determination is made at block 610whether the preamble (510, FIG. 5 a) is received. If the answer isnegative, then processing continues to test the receipt of the preamble.This process is preformed until the time slot expires and a newidentification is searched for.

However, when the preamble is received, a time projection window isopened at block 620. At block 630, a determination is made whether thestop clock pulse (530, FIG. 5A) is received. In this case, a referenceto clock stop pulse 530, anyone of the clock stop subpulses 530.1-530.n,may be used to indicate that the clock stop pulse 530 has been received.

If the answer is negative, then a determination is made whether the timeof the window has expired. If the time of the projection window has notexpired, then processing continues to monitor whether the stop clockpulse has been received (block 630).

However, if the clock stop pulse (or at least one of the clock stopsubpulses 530.1-530.n) is received, then a duration is made whether ameasured amplitude to the received clock stop pulse is above a thresholdvalue at block 640. If the amplitude is below the threshold value thenprocessing continues to monitor for a received pulse at block 630.

However, if the measured amplitude is above a threshold value thenprocess continues at block 650, wherein a stop clock indication (e.g.,time) is made wherein the time of the received pulse is determined andthe projection window is closed. The time of the received stop clockindication is provided to a processor at block 660 for further analysis.

Although not shown, it would be appreciated that the threshold value maybe determined dynamically based, for example, on an average of themeasure amplitude of each of the received pulses in the preamble 510. Inanother aspect, the threshold value may be determined based on themeasured amplitude value of those pulses in the preamble that lie withina known level with regard to the maximum amplitude value. In eitheraspect, the threshold value may then be determined as being a knownlevel below the measured amplitude of the preamble pulses. In stillanother aspect, the threshold value may be set at being a known levelabove and below the measured amplitude to the preamble pulses. Forexample, a threshold value may be established as 1 decibel (db) aboveand below a measured amplitude of the pulses in the preamble. In thisexample, a pulse is only accepted when it is detected during theprojected window (temporal criterion) and within an amplitude range(amplitude consistency criterion).

FIG. 7A illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary process 700 fordetermining a location of a wireless transmission in accordance with theprinciples of the invention. In this illustrated embodiment, time slotsare assigned to each user in a network at block 710. As previouslydiscussed, this assignment may be based on the number of users, a timeframe and a time slot length. At block 720, an index is set for eachtime slot within a time frame. At block 730 a determination is madewhether an identification associated with the user assigned to the timeslot has been received. As previously discussed, this identification maybe included within the preamble that is received during the time slot(see FIG. 5B). If the identification has not been received then adetermination is made at block 735 whether the time slot has ended. Ifthe answer is negative, the processing continues at block 730.

However, if the identification has been received, then a determinationis made whether the identification is associated with the designatedtime slot at block 740. If the answer is negative, the processingcontinues at block 730 to wait the correct identification.

However, if the identification is acceptable, then the user isidentified based on the identification at block 745, the type of devicemay be determined at block 750 and a location may be determined at block760, using triangulation techniques, as previously discussed. At block770, the parameters associated with the user may then be output to adisplay device, for example.

Returning to block 735, if the time period associated with the time slotexpires, then processing continues at block 775 wherein a next timeperiod is selected. At block 780, a determination is made whether allthe time slots in the frame have been scanned. If the answer is in theaffirmative, then the value associated with the time slot is reset torepeat the processing at the beginning at the time frame.

Although not shown, it would be appreciated that processing ofidentification and/or determination of type of device in blocks 745 and750, respectively, may be performed prior to accepting theidentification in block 740. Similarly, the determination of theacceptable identification may be removed without altering the scope ofthe invention.

FIG. 7B illustrates a flow chart of exemplary process 760 (see FIG. 7A)for determining a location or position of a transmitting facility inaccordance with the principles of the invention. In this illustratedembodiment, a time value is obtained from each of the sensors within thenetwork at block 761. At block 762 a determination is made whether asufficient number of time values have been obtained. If the answer ispositive, then groups of times are formed at block 763, wherein eachgroup includes selected ones of the time values. At block 764 a positionor location is determined based on each group of times. In one aspect ofthe invention, the location based on a group of times may be determinedusing a linear algebra based algorithm. The linear algebra basedalgorithm is well known in the art and need not be described herein.

At block 765 each of the positions obtained from the groups of times isobtained and at block 766 a final position is determined as a functionof the obtained positions. For example, a final position may bedetermined as an average of the obtained positions. In another aspect,selected ones of the obtained positions may be used for determining afinal position.

As an example, when six (6) sensors are included in the system, withtimes designated at T₁-T₆, two groups of times (T₁-T₅ and T₂-T₆) may beformed and a position obtained for each of these two groups. While aposition may be determined based on at least three time values within agroup in a horizontal plane, in a preferred embodiment of the inventionat least five (5) time values within each group are utilized. The use offive time values is preferable to account for vertical displacement ofthe transmitting facility and it has been found the use of five timevalues converges to a solution faster than four time values.

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary application of the system describedherein. In this exemplary application, which is associated with a firefighting situation, of identifying, monitoring, tracking and locating afire fighter 805 located in building 810.

In this illustrated exemplary application, one or more sensors 400 maybe located on building 815 or a tower 820 adjacent to the building 810.In one aspect of the invention, the location of the sensors may be builtinto command vehicles, wherein, the sensors may be placed in aconfiguration that provides for best determining location of thefirefighter. The fire fighter 805 may have on his/her person a wirelesstransmission device, e.g., a cell phone or a special purpose device. Thespecial purpose device may be a transceiving device (wireless device)that may be attached to a wrist (a wrist band), pinned to a garment orattached around a neck (a badge). The wireless transmission device mayfurther provide emergency notification capability incorporation (i.e.,alarm alert, panic button, audio communication capability, biometricinformation, altitude and attitude indication). The wirelesstransmission device may be pre-loaded with an identification code or theidentification code may be dynamically assigned and downloaded to thewireless transmitting device at the moment the device is needed. Thus,the location of each of the firefighters 805 may then be monitored,tracked and located as previously disclosed as the sensors 400 provideidentification of firefighter 805 via a wireless communication link towireless interface 860. Computer 880 may then correlate the informationfrom each of the sensors to determine a location of firefighter 805.

Although the principles of the invention are applicable to theillustrated example, it would be recognized that in this dynamicsituation, the location of the sensors are not determined a prior nor isthe general configuration of the building 810 known. Hence, to provideproper location of firefighter 805 locations of sensors 400 and ageneral layout of the building 810 is needed. To determine the locationof the sensors a laser range finder and theodolite 830 may be used. Thetheodolite may determine the position, both horizontal and vertical withrespect to the position of the theodolite. The position of thetheodolite may be determined based on a GPS (Global PositioningSatellite) system. In one aspect, the sensors 400 may also include a GPSreceiver, which may provide the location of the sensor 400 via awireless communication link to interface 860. In addition, a highdefinition RADAR 840 may be used to map the interior elements ofbuilding 810. This mapping may be performed periodically to account forchanges in the structure of building 810. The information from the RADAR840 may be provided to a processor 870 that correlates the location offirefighter 805 with the current structure of building 810. It would berecognized that such correlation may be performed in computer 880 also.In another aspect, an infra-red scanner 850 may be incorporated todetermine the location of hot spots within building 810. In thisillustrated system 800, computer 880 may for example, direct afirefighter 805 toward or away from hot spots depending upon thesituation that is occurring within building 810.

FIG. 8B illustrates another exemplary application of the systemdescribed herein. In this exemplary application, multiple sensors 400are positioned vertically on tower 820 to provide accurate location ofeach of the firefighters on different levels within building 810.Computer system 880, as previously discussed, may correlate the interiorstructure of each floor of building 810 to accurately locate theposition of firefighter 805.

FIG. 8C illustrates another exemplary application of the systemdescribed herein. In this exemplary application, sensor 400 may beincluded on a school bus, for example, wherein each student is allocateda badge 885 that is detected upon the students entry to the bus.Detection and identification is performed in a manner as shown in FIG.7B. The identification and status of each person (student, parent,driver) may then be provided to central office 895 that maintains aregister of the persons on the school bus. In the case of an accident,for example, information regarding the bus may be determined bycollision or impact sensor 890 and provided to the central office 895.The central office having a registration of the persons on the bus maythen provide information to parents, school officials, and police. Inthis aspect of the invention, the bus itself may include a long-rangewireless transmitting device (previously discussed) or transmissionfacility (as earlier discussed for outside applications) or a GPS system(not shown) that determines the location of the bus.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary wireless transmissiondevice 900 in accordance with the principles of the invention. In thisillustrated exemplary, device 900 includes antenna 904-1 receiving asignal from sensor 400 (not shown). The signal may include asynchronization pulse, an identification code, and/or a time slotindication within a frame allocated to the device. The provided signalis down-converted by transceiver 910 and the signal is applied tomicrocontroller 920. Microcontroller 920 may be in communication withmemory 922, which may include instructions or code for controlling theprocessing of microcontroller 920. Memory 922 may also be preloaded withan identification code or provides storage for information received fromsensor 400. Processor 920, when active during the allocated time slot,may provide control to shift register 960 to cause the output of thepreamble message (see FIGS. 5A and 5B) in the allocated time slot. Thepreamble bits are next provided to a modulator 970 to modulate a carriersignal (in this case 448 MHz). The modulated carrier is then provided todriver for transmission via antenna 904-2.

Processor 920 further provides instruction to shift register 960 tooutput a clock stop pulse and a 56 MHz bit rate data package. In apreferred embodiment, the clock stop pulse is of a known duration and isnot modulated by modulator 970.

RF switch 930 controls an input to shift register 960 in allowing one ofa preamble signal, a clock stop signal or a data signal to be applied toshift register 960. Crystal clock 940 and multiplier 950 are used togenerate a clock signal suitable for the pulse duration of the preamblebits. (see FIG. 5A). An emergency signal mode may further beincorporated as represented by block 990. In this case, an knownemergency signal may be transmitted within the preamble code or in thedata section (see FIG. 5B). This emergency signal may override otherdata that may be transmitted during this time period.

FIG. 10 illustrates a system 1000 for implementing the principles of theinvention as depicted in the exemplary processing shown herein. In thisexemplary system embodiment 1000, input data is received from sources1005 over network 1050 and is processed in accordance with one or moreprograms, either software or firmware, executed by processing system1010. The results of processing system 1010 may then be transmitted overnetwork 1070 for viewing on display 1080, reporting device 1090 and/or asecond processing system 1095.

Processing system 1010 includes one or more input/output devices 1040that receive data from the illustrated sources or devices 1005 overnetwork 1050. The received data is then applied to processor 1020, whichis in communication with input/output device 1040 and memory 1030.Input/output devices 1040, processor 1020 and memory 1030 maycommunicate over a communication medium 1025. Communication medium 1025may represent a communication network, e.g., ISA, PCI, PCMCIA bus, oneor more internal connections of a circuit, circuit card or other device,as well as portions and combinations of these and other communicationmedia.

Processing system 1010 and/or processor 1020 may be representative of ahandheld calculator, special purpose or general purpose processingsystem, desktop computer, laptop computer, palm computer, or personaldigital assistant (PDA) device, etc., as well as portions orcombinations of these and other devices that can perform the operationsillustrated.

Processor 1020 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or dedicatedhardware/software, such as a PAL, ASIC, FGPA, operable to executecomputer instruction code or a combination of code and logicaloperations. In one embodiment, processor 1020 may include code which,when executed by the processor, performs the operations illustratedherein. The code may be contained in memory 1030, may be read ordownloaded from a memory medium such as a CD-ROM or floppy disk,represented as 1083, may be provided by a manual input device 1085, suchas a keyboard or a keypad entry, or may be read from a magnetic oroptical medium (not shown) or via a second I/O device 1087 when needed.Information items provided by devices 1083, 1085, 1087 may be accessibleto processor 1020 through input/output device 1040, as shown. Further,the data received by input/output device 1040 may be immediatelyaccessible by processor 1020 or may be stored in memory 1030. Processor1020 may further provide the results of the processing to display 1080,recording device 1090 or a second processing unit 1095.

As one skilled in the art would recognize, the terms processor,processing system, computer or computer system may represent one or moreprocessing units in communication with one or more memory units andother devices, e.g., peripherals, connected electronically to andcommunicating with the at least one processing unit. Furthermore, thedevices illustrated may be electronically connected to the one or moreprocessing units via internal busses, e.g., serial, parallel, ISA bus,microchannel bus, PCI bus, PCMCIA bus, USB, etc., or one or moreinternal connections of a circuit, circuit card or other device, as wellas portions and combinations of these and other communication media, oran external network, e.g., the Internet and Intranet. In otherembodiments, hardware circuitry may be used in place of, or incombination with, software instructions to implement the invention. Forexample, the elements illustrated herein may also be implemented asdiscrete hardware elements or may be integrated into a single unit. Aswould be understood, the operations illustrated may be performedsequentially or in parallel using different processors to determinespecific values. Processing system 1010 may also be in two-waycommunication with each of the sources 1005. Processing system 1010 mayfurther receive or transmit data over one or more network connectionsfrom a server or servers over, e.g., a global computer communicationsnetwork such as the Internet, Intranet, a wide area network (WAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), a local area network (LAN), aterrestrial broadcast system, a cable network, a satellite network, awireless network, or a telephone network (POTS), as well as portions orcombinations of these and other types of networks. As will beappreciated, networks 1050 and 1070 may also be internal networks or oneor more internal connections of a circuit, circuit card or other device,as well as portions and combinations of these and other communicationmedia or an external network, e.g., the Internet and Intranet.

Aspect of the invention, which are applicable in the fields ofcorrections, law enforcement and in society in general have contemplatedthe convergence of a plurality of technologies. In this case, thesensors may perform multi functions, as they may communicate both in awired and wireless mode. The communications may be setup to work in aWide Area Network (WAN) or a closed loop network, with known wirelessprotocols and access points. The sensors can detect multiple wirelesstransmissions, including those from conventional cell phone, and wristbands, badges and transmission facility units, as described herein. Thewrist bands can pass and receive audio, biometric, video, data andinformation to and from the sensors, and receive wireless communicationand data/information from other wristbands and pass information andreceive information to at least one 3^(rd) party application or device.The wrist bands transmission capability includes, sync, transceivercommunication, and pico seconds rise-time transmission circuit, and abattery conservation circuit. The wristband includes at least one 3^(rd)party application or device and incorporates biometric, identification,alarm and alert functionality and circuitry. The sensors can also passaudio and video to a central unit, or receive wireless communicationfrom each other sensor and pass that information to at least one 3^(rd)party application or device. Additionally, the central unit may acceptdata from the 3^(rd) part network and pass the data to the sensors to bebroadcast out each node. An embodiment of the system is to providecommunication to each cell, a user can receive and transmit audio videodata, and phone services. The sensors are also designed to connect tosmoke detector and other alarm detection devices, for example. Thecentral interface, transmission detection, identification, and reportingsystem 100, and transmission facility, may be designed to communicateand integrate with existing systems and new CJIS compliant systems, viabuilt-in active, passive radio technology. I.E offender managementsystems, commissary systems, medical records systems, inmate telephonesystems, scheduling software may be provided by the methods describedherein. The embodiment and central unit is designed to collect data onat least a portion of the wireless transmissions including time, status,biometric, environmental and location and the like. The embodiment ofthe system may dissect this information to make better decisionsregarding on the environment within the sensor range of the sensors. Inthis case, conditions such as heart attack detection, suicideprevention, stress analysis may be detected and provided to a centraloffice. The transmission facility central interface, transmissiondetection, identification, and reporting system 100, embodiment canadjust its transmission, and/or sensitivity to conform to the buildingand/or outside environment. The control unit is designed to be standalong or be able to handle multi-facility (buildings) coordination anddisplay.

While there has been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novelfeatures of the present invention as applied to preferred embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutionsand changes in the apparatus described, in the form and details of thedevices disclosed, and in their operation, may be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.It is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements thatperform substantially the same function in substantially the same way toachieve the same results are within the scope of the invention.Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another arealso fully intended and contemplated.

1. An apparatus for detecting a transmitting device and a time forapplication in a tracking system, said apparatus comprising: a receivingsystem receiving a signal containing at least a preamble code of a knownlength and at least one pulse within a receive window after saidpreamble code, a circuit receiving said at least one pulse comprising: azero-crossing circuit for indicting a zero-voltage crossing of said atleast one pulse; and a trigger device for latching said indication ofzero-voltage crossing; and a ripple circuit counter, receiving saidlatched indication of said zero-voltage crossing and associating a timeto the receipt of said latched indication.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said at least one pulse is composed of a plurality of pulses. 3.A system for locating a wireless communication transmission comprising:a plurality of sensors distributed within a known area, each of saidsensors comprising: a receiving system receiving a signal containing atleast a preamble code of a known length and at least one pulse within areceive window after said preamble code, a circuit receiving said atleast one pulse comprising: a zero-crossing circuit for indicting azero-voltage crossing of said at least one pulse; and a trigger devicefor latching said indication of zero-voltage crossing; a ripple circuitcounter receiving said latched indication of said zero-voltage crossingand associating a time to the receipt of said latched indication; and aprocessor in communication with a memory, said processor: receiving atime value of said at least one pulse from each of said sensors; anddetermining said location based on groups of said time values.